Man shot dead during BGB’s anti-smuggling drive in M’singh

A man shot dead when Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members fired “warning shots” during an anti-smuggling operation along the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh early yesterday, while a BGB member was assaulted by suspected smugglers.

The deceased, Ruman, 32, was of Betkuchi village in Haluaghat upazila, said Md Jalal Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Haluaghat Police Station.

Based on a tip-off, a patrol team from Telikhali Border Outpost seized four cows in the Joljolia area around 5:45am, said Lt Col Md Nurul Azim Baizid, commanding officer of BGB-39 Mymensingh Battalion.

When the team was on their way back to the camp, a group of suspected smugglers armed with locally made weapons attacked them, he said.

The BGB members first issued verbal warnings, then fired three to four “warning shots”, the commanding officer said.

He claimed the attackers did not disperse and instead assaulted a BGB member from behind. When the member turned around, a bullet was “inadvertently” fired, hitting one of the alleged smugglers, the official added.

The injured man was taken to Haluaghat Upazila Health Complex, where a doctor on duty declared him dead, he said.

BGB Nayek Rafiq suffered injuries to his right hand in a machete attack during the incident and received primary treatment, BGB sources said.

The body was sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue autopsy.

The OC said a case was being filed on charges of obstructing government officials in discharging duties.